Undocumented dad taken by ICE while dropping kids off at school

Fatima Avelica, 13, was being dropped off at school in Highland Park, near Los Angeles, with her sisters when the ICE agents swooped on her father Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, 48.

A 13-year-old girl wailed as immigration agents took her handcuffed father away in a black auto. It's free to sign up!

Immigration activists Thursday worked to halt the deportation of an undocumented immigrant who they say was detained by ICE this week while dropping his daughters at school in Highland Park. "Misleading practices like these undermine the good faith and spirit of cooperation that is so integral to our city's safety and security". "As far as we can tell, it's pretty common". "It's bad to feel and see your family being broken apart", Jocelyn also told a local ABC News outlet.

Avelica-Gonzalez's has lived in the USA for more than 25 years and was detained over a decade-old DUI (Driving under the influence) conviction and an incident 20 years ago where he bought a vehicle with an incorrect registration sticker, according to Ricardo Mireles, executive director of the Highland Park charter school Academia Avance. After being placed in an unmarked vehicle and taken to a nearby detention center, family members were informed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement that Avelica-Gonzalez would be deported later that day.

Avelica-Gonzalez's situation is representative of bigger issues connected to President Donald Trump's harsh crackdown on undocumented immigrants. "He is still here, and we are going to do everything in our power to resist these destructive actions". He is still reportedly being held in a detention facility outside Los Angeles, but NDLON is petitioning for his release, and protesters are demonstrating outside the facility.

Avelica said the immigration officers had been following him in a auto since he left the house that morning.

Lopez pointed out that statistics show undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than the average person in the U.S.

"Father from East LA got picked up this morning as he was about to take his children to school", the organization posted on Facebook Friday morning. His family needs him here and deporting him would bring emotional and financial hardship to his family. If you speak now you will not know what happened to him.